Ashfield District Council's plans for a second swimming pool at Hucknall Leisure Centre were unanimously approved this morning.

The £2.7million teaching pool will follow recent upgrades, including a new fitness suite, studios and the refurbished reception, which have transformed Hucknall Leisure Centre over the past year.

To complement the second pool, work on the new wetside changing village is under way. When completed it will feature different-sized areas to accommodate different users, such as single and family-sized cubicles.

Councillor John Wilmott, who represents Hucknall North as well as being Cabinet Member for Licensing, Environmental Health and Regulatory Services, said: "This is exciting news, the long-awaited second swimming pool is part of the Council's huge £20million investment and transformation of leisure facilities across Ashfield. The addition of an extra pool will mean the centre is more inclusive and provides a facility that all the family can enjoy."

Lorenzo Clark, Everyone Active's contract manager, said: "Securing planning permission for the teaching pool is great news for the local community and will allow us to further expand our activity offering at Hucknall.

"There have been so many improvements at the centre this year, with more to come, and adding the teaching pool in 2022 will be the icing on the cake.

"We aim to cater for all sections of the community, no matter what your age or ability, and this will prove a huge part of that."